MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14099, 19 July 1911, Page 7

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Two first offenders were each fined sa, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. THEFT. George Henry Tubby pleaded guilty to a charge of having stolon a case of kerosene, valued at ss, the property of Strange and Co. On the application of the police, a remand for one week was granted. MISCELLANEOUS. John Shields was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, on a charge of having entered licenced premises during the continuance of a prohibition order against him. Michael Murphy (Mr Donnelly) was charged with having procured liquor during the continuance of a prohibition order against him. His Worship said that accused could have ono further chance. He would be fined 10s, in default- 48 hours' inipri_cnment, and would be allowed one week to find the money. William Crowley (Mr Leathern) pleaded guilty to a similar charge,-and was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Alary Jane Bethke, en a similar charge, was fined 20s, in default one month's imprisonment. James Edmond, on a similar charge, was ffined 20s, in default one month's imprisonment, and was warned that a repetition of the offence would mea'i detention at the Rotoroa Inebriates' Home. For leaving a vehicle unattended, Edmond was fined a further os and costs, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. Thomas Harland, for disobedience oi a maintenance order, was sentenced to one month's imprif-onment, tho warrant to be suspended provided he paid 7s 6d per week off tho airears, in addition to 7s 6d per week due under the order. John Gale was sentenced to one month's- imprisonment, sentence to be suspended provided that he paid off the amount in afrear at the rate of 20s per week. DISMISSED. A charge against Cyril Wheatley (Mr Leathern) that he was tho putative father of an unburn illegitimate child was dismissed. POOR MILK. William McMillan (Mr Donnelly) was charged with selling milk containing prohibited matter, to wit, water. Mr Donnelly pleaded guilty, admitting that the milk held 20 per cent of water. Accused was a small shopkeeper, and bought the milk from a third party. , c ••-* Mr _*>nnelly entered a plea of guilty to a further charge of selling goods not up to standard. On tho first charge a fine of 60s and on the second a fine of os, with costs m each, were inflicted. Fanny Kt-aron (Mr. Donnelly)" pleaded guilty to similar charges, and was fined 40s and 5s costs, on the respectivo counts. TAXI-CAB MUDDLE. Frank Woods (Mr Johnston) pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to comply with the orders of the police as to placing his cab; assaulting the police; and inciting to assault the police. The affair from which the charges arose had occurred outside the Theatre Royal. Sergeant Miller detailed the arrangements mado for the regulation of the taxi-cab traffic during the Williamson season. The taxi-cabs had been ranked on the north side of Gloucester street, east of tho theatre, and were to approach the theatre door only one at a time. But the end cars rushed forward. This man had urged a chauffeur to drive over the constables; he had added that he had money and could stand the consequences. . Constables Smythe and Wroblenski gave corroborative evidence. Frederick Jones, a taxi-cab driver, in the employ of the Rink stables, deposed that there had been delay at the theatre. An altercation, as described by Sergeant Miller, had occurred. But

he had seen no rush of taxis to the theatre door. Benjamin Throp, chief inspector for the City Council, gave evidence as to the way in which Woods conducted Kb duties. Mr Johnston then withdrew his plea of not guilty. Mr Johnston explained that his,client at the time,had been suffering from a very keen, though perhaps ill-founded, sense of injustice. His driving at the Sergeant had been mere bluff His Worship: He had better try it elsewhere then. Mr Johnston ended by a statement that he had his client's assurance that nothing of the sort would occur again His Worship pointed ont to the acoused the dan-jer of riot there was in such conduct as his. On the charge of interference with the traffic, a fine of 20s and costs would be inflicted; on the charge of inciting to assault a fine of 20s and costs; and on the charge of driving at the constable, £5 and costs.